It was a little light. Was it clothing?
Suzuki Toru glanced at the label. It looked like a high-end brand, probably worth ten or twenty thousand Private Points.
Didn't those Class D guys know how to save their points?
Although he'd only given it a discreet glance, Kushida Kikyo still noticed where he was looking.
This guy really was a flirt. He even sneaked peeks at girls' clothes. Had he set his sights on her?
But when she thought of Horikita Suzune, Kushida Kikyo hesitated for a moment.
Maybe that wouldn't be so bad.
A brand-new day began, and Suzuki Toru arrived at the Class A classroom.
A week had passed since the start of school, and almost everyone had gotten used to life here.
"Have you made any progress these past few days, Suzuki?" Sakayanagi Arisu took the initiative and greeted him.
He'd accidentally made a million. Could he say that?
Suzuki Toru glanced at her cane. If he could just snatch it away, he'd be able to grant two or three wishes. The temptation was almost too much to bear.
"I've made some preliminary preparations. I'll be able to join the Student Council soon."
"Hehehe, I look forward to it." Sakayanagi Arisu smiled. "But it seems I can't afford to keep falling behind, either."
Suzuki Toru eyed her suspiciously, but she suddenly turned her face away. Her gaze met Hashimoto Masayoshi's across the room, and he nodded as if he understood.
"Um, could everyone quiet down for a moment?" Hashimoto Masayoshi stood up. "Sakayanagi has something important to tell us. Could you spare a few minutes?"
At his words, the classroom, which had been somewhat noisy, quieted down. Most of the students turned to look.
Hashimoto Masayoshi was popular. Having him speak up would get results—certainly more than having Sakayanagi Arisu, a middle schooler, shout for everyone's attention.
"What's this about? What's she going to say?"
"Ahaha, is she about to confess to someone?"
"You into little girls, or what?"
The class stirred a little, and even Katsuragi Kohei couldn't help looking at Sakayanagi Arisu.
"Sakayanagi, what's this important thing you want to tell us?"
In response to Katsuragi Kohei's question, Sakayanagi Arisu calmly raised her eyes and met the gaze of the entire class. Then she smiled faintly.
"Of course, it's about the true nature of this school—the truth that's been kept from all of us since the start of the school year."
So she was finally starting to make her move?
Had she watched for a while and grown disappointed?
No, perhaps she'd simply gotten bored.
Suzuki Toru silently took out his notebook. It was already filled with quite a bit of information, but he decided to add a few more notes.
Over on the other side, Katsuragi Kohei had also guessed what Sakayanagi Arisu was about to say.
"How much have you found out?"
"Hehehe, everything, of course. I'll tell you all of it, without leaving out a single word."
The wider Sakayanagi Arisu smiled, the more uneasy Katsuragi Kohei felt. He had the sense that she'd come prepared.
Chapter Sixteen: We Are the Champions
"First, let me ask you all something. How many Private Points do you have left?"
Although no one knew what Sakayanagi Arisu was getting at, quite a few people answered.
Some said seventy thousand, others said ninety thousand. Almost no one had spent more than half, and most students had only used up ten or twenty thousand.
"That's about what I expected. I thought there might be an idiot who'd blow through all their points at once." A trace of disappointment flashed in Sakayanagi Arisu's eyes, though no one could figure out what she was disappointed about.
"Hey, stop dragging this out. If you have something to say, just say it!" Totsuka Yahiko urged her impatiently.
"Hehehe, please don't rush me. There's still a little time before class starts. I'm sure you'll soon feel that this was well worth your time," Sakayanagi Arisu said at an unhurried pace. "After all, you may not receive the same number of Private Points next month."
As soon as she finished speaking, a wave of astonished voices swept through the classroom.
"Is that true?!"
"Wait, what exactly do you mean?"
"Why wouldn't we get the same number of Private Points next month?"
Her words stirred up a storm. Everyone stared in shock, unable to believe what they'd just heard.
"Sakayanagi, is your information reliable?" Katsuragi Kohei asked gravely.
"Absolutely. It took a little time, but I got the upperclassmen to confirm it. If you don't believe me, you can ask them yourselves." Sakayanagi Arisu smiled. "Just look at their point records for this month, and you'll understand."
On the day she enrolled, she'd used her chess skills to post a bounty on the school forum and, through wagers, had thoroughly farmed a few rounds of easy targets.
Anyone who didn't follow the school forum probably had no idea what she'd been up to.
"Next month, we'll receive a corresponding number of Private Points based on our Class Points. The ratio is one to one hundred. Our Class Points this month are one thousand, so we received one hundred thousand Private Points."
"Meanwhile, our rankings in the year will change according to our Class Points. The highest rank is Class A, and the lowest is Class D. In the school's eyes, the best students are those in Class A, and the worst are those in Class D."
"One especially important point: only students who graduate from Class A will receive the school's promised benefits, meaning guaranteed further education and employment. If you're not in Class A, you won't get those."
"From now on, we'll be competing against the other three classes. Whether we want to maintain Class A's position or earn the Private Points necessary for daily life, Class Points are crucial."
"I hope you all understand that. That's all."
After saying this, Sakayanagi Arisu sat quietly in her seat. Her face revealed nothing. This was only the beginning.
The classroom fell silent. After a long while, someone finally broke the silence.
"Hahaha, but we started out in Class A, didn't we? That means the school has already recognized our abilities. Class A is for the best students!" Totsuka Yahiko burst out laughing.
A few others seemed to share his opinion, their expressions easing a little.
Katsuragi Kohei, however, said gravely, "From what I understand, the other classes currently have the same number of Class Points as us. Every class has one thousand."
"Did the school make a mistake?" Totsuka Yahiko complained. "If we're Class A, shouldn't there be a difference? Right now, all our rankings are the same, aren't they?"
"I've already checked. Both the second- and third-year students have boards displaying the rankings of the four classes, but there isn't one for our first year yet." Hashimoto Masayoshi suddenly spoke up. "That means the school considers us all to be on the same starting line right now. As for why we were placed in Class A, I think the school must have had another reason."
"Huh? Then what's the point of sorting us into classes?" Totsuka Yahiko was unexpectedly the fastest in the class to accept the truth. "Being in Class A means we're the best students, doesn't it? I don't understand why the school would do this at all."
Perhaps unable to bear it any longer, Sakayanagi Arisu sighed. "Could it be that the school believes that even if it gives us all one thousand Class Points, next month's rankings will still make the differences obvious?"
"Will they deduct Class Points?" Katsuragi Kohei was the first to catch on.
"Not only will they deduct them, but they'll expel students, too." Hashimoto Masayoshi spoke as if lamenting the fact. "I heard more than ten second-years have already been expelled. When the princess asked me to look into it, even I was startled."
He'd deliberately mentioned his relationship with Sakayanagi Arisu. That special way of addressing her made it almost an open declaration that he'd chosen the other rising leader.
Katsuragi Kohei understood. His brows drew tightly together. When had the two of them started working together?
But at the mention of expulsion, many students' expressions changed.
"Only Class A students get the freedom to pursue further education or employment. That's already unfair enough, and now they're going to expel students, too?"
"Hashimoto, how do we avoid getting expelled?"
"I'm starting to regret coming to this school."
Hashimoto Masayoshi blinked, then gave them a refreshing smile. "I'm not sure about that. Sakayanagi was the one who asked me to look into all this."
Everyone's gaze returned to Sakayanagi Arisu.
"Don't worry. I believe the school won't expel anyone without a reason. There must be some circumstances that forced those students to withdraw." Sakayanagi Arisu wore a faint smile. "Looking at the second-years, the classes with the most expulsions are Class C and Class D. Class A has only had one."
That seemed to reassure the Class A students somewhat.
"Whether it's Class Points or expelling a student, the school probably has a set of procedures for each. If we want to avoid the worst-case scenario, we should figure out what they are."
Without anyone noticing, Sakayanagi Arisu had begun thinking on everyone's behalf, like a leader.
"If we don't take the initiative, things could get very troublesome," Sakayanagi Arisu continued. "You don't want to accept the school's arrangements without knowing anything, do you?"
Some people were tempted, but most realized how valuable Sakayanagi Arisu had just proven herself to be.
At that moment, Katsuragi Kohei asked calmly, "What do you plan to do?"
"Of course, gather more information." Sakayanagi Arisu smiled. "If possible, I'd like someone to join a club and get to know the upperclassmen."
Before Katsuragi Kohei could ask why, she answered in advance. "Also, taking part in club activities earns points. Outstanding members can receive a corresponding number of Private Points."
"Huh? Not Class Points?" Totsuka Yahiko asked, puzzled. "Aside from buying things, Private Points aren't much use, are they?"
Sakayanagi Arisu turned to look at Suzuki Toru, her smile as sly as a fox's.
"On that note, I'd like to hear what Suzuki thinks."
Suzuki Toru, who'd been enjoying the show, suddenly felt like a teacher had called on him. He couldn't help feeling helpless.
Chapter Seventeen: The School's Rules
When called on, Suzuki Toru didn't panic too much.
At that moment, the entire class's gaze converged on him.
Class A had plenty of handsome guys, such as Shijo Taiga, Sanada Kosei, Satonaka Satoshi, and Hashimoto Masayoshi. Even so, Suzuki Toru stood out from the crowd.
He could sense the girls quietly whispering among themselves, and he could see the boys' envious, curious expressions. Suzuki Toru kept evaluating what kind of image he ought to project.
"Teacher Mashima already explained Private Points on the day school started. He said, 'You can buy anything with them.' I think that tells us everything we need to know."
As he spoke, Suzuki Toru looked around. Quite a few students had already vaguely sensed something was off, but they hadn't thought it through.
Now that he'd brought it up again, they immediately recalled how carefully Mashima Tomoya had phrased his explanation.
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?" Totsuka Yahiko stared at Suzuki Toru in disbelief. "Points are Yen. You can buy whatever you want with them. Isn't that obvious?"
Even in Class A, there were students who weren't quick on the uptake. After all, not long ago, they'd all been middle schoolers—ordinary students from all over the country.
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